Geothermal Technicians
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
Also called: Corrosion Technician, Design Technician, Distribution Field Technician, Field Distribution Technician, Geothermal Field Technician, Geothermal HVAC Technician (Geothermal Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Technician)
Median pay
$49,230
Pay for the broader BLS group “Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,080 – $77,040
People employed
176,300
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 5.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 6.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Exposure to hazardous conditions
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Geothermal Technicians pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other”.
What geothermal technicians do
- 01Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- 02Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- 03Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- 04Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- 05Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- 06Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Physics
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from geothermal technicians
- Power Plant Operators90% · —
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators88% · —
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians88% · group pay
- Biomass Plant Technicians85% · group pay
- Wellhead Pumpers81% · —
Change into geothermal technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians90% · $102,040
- Biofuels Processing Technicians82% · $62,470
- Biomass Plant Technicians82% · $102,040
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers80% · $53,140
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic79% · $50,140
Majors that lead here
- Mechanics and Repairers, General
- Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General
- Gunsmithing/Gunsmith
- Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Geothermal Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.